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After Fukushima: Nuclear Power Programs Around the World

By Fenella Saunders

A Q&A with a research physicist on the future of energy production via nuclear power.

October 14, 2016

From The Staff Physics

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M. V. Ramana, a physicist at Princeton University's Nuclear Futures Lab and Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer, researches nuclear-fuel technologies and related policy implications. In this Hangout, he discusses  the future of energy production via nuclear power programs since the tsunami-related disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in Japan in 2011. Dr. Ramana addresses such questions as: Can nuclear power continue to compete when energy production from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, is becoming less expensive? How are nuclear power plants addressing issues of safety and waste disposal? And how can the world reach a balance among industry interests, public perception, technology limits, and economic considerations?

A Storify of tweets, providing highlights of the discussion, is shown below.

After Fukushima: Nuclear Power Programs Around the World

A Q&A with M. V. Ramana, a physicist at Princeton University and Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer, on the future of energy production via nuclear power programs since the Fukushima disaster.

  1. #AmSciGHO is live!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6_b7PYQJhc … Ramana begins with a #history of #Fukushima's disaster. #Nuclear #power…  https://twitter.com/i/web/status/785926823599366144 …
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    ·
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:35:31
  2. SigmaXiSociety
    SigmaXiSociety@SigmaXiSociety
    Watch now: "After Fukushima: Nuclear Power Programs Around the World" ft @Princeton researcher M.V. Ramana…  https://twitter.com/i/web/status/785926941807259648 …
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:35:59
  3. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    Compared to #Chernobyl, #Fukushima was 1/8 to 1/4 the amount of Cesium-137 contaminants being released, most over the ocean #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:37:37
  4. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    Current state of #nuclear plants (~450, generating ~11% of world's #electricity), 43 are in Japan, but only 2 are operating there #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:39:47
  5. SigmaXiSociety
    SigmaXiSociety@SigmaXiSociety
    450 nuclear power plants operate in the world and generated 11% of global electricity last year but is on decline --M.V. Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:40:14
  6. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    World has been using far less #electricity than anticipated. Little or no growth in lately in some countries, including in USA. #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:41:35
  7. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'There's always going to be the possibility of an #accident, no matter what kind of reactor it is.' -- M. V. Ramana, #AmSciGHO #nuclear
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:42:43
  8. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    New #nuclear plant is about $15-20 billion, & cost of #electricity is much higher from them now than from gas-fired or renewables #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:44:18
  9. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'It takes much less time to put up a #wind turbine or a #solar farm than to put up a #nuclear reactor' - M. V. Ramana, #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:45:35
  10. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    #Nuclear reactors could be modular, but @Princeton's Ramana says reason they became big is to take advantage of economies of scale #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:47:08
  11. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Frm #AmSciGHO on nuclear power post-Fukushima.. M.V. Ramana:In 1996,~17% of power globally generated by nuclear plants; highest amount ever.
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:48:43
  12. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'Heyday of #nuclear #power construction in #US came about under budgeted. It cost much more than originally planned.' -Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:49:33
  13. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    Ramana says we treat #risks differently: having a #nuclear #power plant nearby vs. #risk of driving a car #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:52:17
  14. _klburke
    Katie L. Burke@_klburke
    Answers on support for #nuclear depends a lot on how the question is framed. - Ramana #amscigho
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:53:53
  15. #Nuclear #power as a form of abating #ClimateChange being discussed now in #AmSciGHO with M. V. Ramana @Princeton  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6_b7PYQJhc …
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    ·
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:54:15
  16. _klburke
    Katie L. Burke@_klburke
    Ramana: Levels of support for #nuclear varies from poll to poll and country to country. #amscigho
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:54:47
  17. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana:Nuclear power now generates ~11% of power globally. Declined b/c of controversy; also, need for power lower than expected. #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:56:28
  18. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: Demand for power less than expected in recent yrs b/c of increased use of natural gas & renewables & improved conservation #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:00:59
  19. _klburke
    Katie L. Burke@_klburke
    Ramana: Pebble bed reactor has been pursued since dawn of nuclear age--1st in 1944. #amscigho
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:57:11
  20. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    #Technology unproven for improving #safety with #nuclear #power. Pebble-bed reactors now being discussed #AmSciGHO…  https://twitter.com/i/web/status/785932593841577984 …
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:58:26
  21. _klburke
    Katie L. Burke@_klburke
    Ramana: Pebble bed reactor is good example of tradeoffs--can't optimize everything we want. #amscigho
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:58:31
  22. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: Safety features like pebble-bed reactors are appealing; but there are economic barriers. #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:09:37
  23. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana:W/ pebble-bed reactors, construction costs for bigger containment areas, etc, that are necessary can prevent implementation #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:12:05
  24. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: First pebble-bed reactor designed in 1944 for Manhattan Project, but never built. #ScienceHistory #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:14:02
  25. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'What looks good on paper -- or on #PowerPoint, for that matter -- does not always translate with #nuclear #power.' -Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 19:59:41
  26. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'Majority of people concerned about #nuclear #power often also knowledgable about #science.' #safety #myth -Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:02:01
  27. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: Energy conservation has improved recently in US; much more so in Japan #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:02:16
  28. _klburke
    Katie L. Burke@_klburke
    Ramana: In Japan, widespread sentiment spread by industry that reactors would never have an accident. #Fukushima affected trust. #amscigho
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:02:42
  29. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    #China has fastest growing #nuclear #power construction in the #world, and #safety #myth is propagating there, says Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:03:57
  30. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: Support for nuclear power differs considerably frm country to country; also poll to poll, depending on how question framed #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:03:59
  31. _klburke
    Katie L. Burke@_klburke
    Ramana: In countries where corruption is a problem, usually accompanied by a lack of transparency. #amscigho
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:05:21
  32. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'Existing #nuclear #power #regulations sometimes just don't go far enough, or aren't implemented' -Ramana @Princeton #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:05:42
  33. 'There are #Fukushima-style #nuclear plants that have not been upgraded since that disaster.' -Ramana #AmSciGHO  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6_b7PYQJhc …
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    ·
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:06:44
  34. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana:Public support declined post-Fukushima; support has grown incrementally in recent yrs w/o another disaster since Fukushima #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:07:05
  35. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'Lots of issues concerning about keeping #nuclear #power plants. Building new ones just doesn't make sense, though.' -Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:09:15
  36. SigmaXiSociety
    SigmaXiSociety@SigmaXiSociety
    Today's #AmSciGHO speaker M.V. Ramana @Princeton is a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer and got Leo Szilard Lectureship Award from @APSphysics
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:09:16
  37. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'Shuttering operating #nuclear #power plants often means ramping up #FossilFuel-based #electricity but #renewables coming' -Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:11:56
  38. M.V. Ramana co-edited the book Prisoners of the #Nuclear Dream  http://amzn.to/2daxwhN  Watch him live  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6_b7PYQJhc … #AmSciGHO
    SigmaXiSociety@SigmaXiSociety
    ·
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:13:52
  39. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    'In 1950s, U.S. National Academies proposed underground disposal facility for #nuclear waste. None yet operational.' -Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:14:13
  40. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    "Decide. Announce. Defend. Abandon." How it has gone for identifying #nuclear disposal facilities, says @Princeton Ramana #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:15:32
  41. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: There are few nuclear power plant designs that are actually new. #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:23:12
  42. diannetimblin
    Dianne Timblin@diannetimblin
    Ramana: Long-term, ongoing issue: how to keep old nuclear plants running safely and effectively. Also, how to shut them down. #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:25:36
  43. AmSciMag
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    Temporary storage of #nuclear #waste now done with dry casks. #power  http://www.nrc.gov/waste/spent-fuel-storage/dry-cask-storage.html … #AmSciGHO
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:26:51
  44. .@Princeton's Ramana concludes #AmSciGHO with discussion of trends of #nuclear #power. Watch the full hangout here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6_b7PYQJhc …
    American Scientist@AmSciMag
    ·
    Tue, Oct 11 2016 20:29:01

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